OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE RIVER. 
113 
sage was to be sent to Sumoraziki, wliicb would 
remove all chance of his imagining that he (Rogaug) 
had in any way prejudiced the captain against him. 
Rogang says that there are rocks obstructing the 
passage in the river, betwixt Rabbah and Boussa, so 
as to prevent canoes passing easily at any time. 
Consequently, people always travel by land when the 
w'ater is low. Rogang also said that canoes cannot 
pass at any time from Rabbah to Yauri; and that 
the journey from the one place to the other occupies 
about six days. In seven months more, according to 
his statement, the river will be high enough for our 
vessels to go from the sea to Rabbah. Cotton is 
grown extensively on the bank opposite to Rabbah. 
Rogang thinks it would be beneficial to all, for the 
English to make a settlement there, but that the 
permission of the Rabbah king is to be obtained first. 
The king would like, no doubt, to have the courtesy 
of asking permission paid him ; but Rogang does not 
think he Avould be hostile to the measure, even if 
entered into without his consent being first obtained. 
The comparatively civilized state of the inhabitants 
of Rabbah, its position, the enterprising character of 
its ruler, and the present extension of Filatah influ- 
ence throughout the Niger, are valid reasons for 
opening up intercourse with this city®b 
* Rabbah, according to Captain Allen’s chart, is 433 miles from the 
sea; and allowing a steamer to have a speed of eight knots an hour, 
VOL. n. I 
